For school we're having to write a persuasive paper on a topic of our chosing. I recently had to switch mine because, i was having issues finding information on my other topic. The topic i got switchted to is 'Contraception in schools' basically whether or not school nurses should or should be allowed to give out contraceptives, confidetially and at low cost. Just out of curiosity more than anything i was wondering what Other people thought about this topic. Any of your opinions would be apretiated, and/or imformation that could help me with my paper...

ETWolverine

Thank you.

In contract law, informed consent is at 18. A contract signed by a minor below the age of 18 is not binding. (That's why so many parents get away with not paying the huge phone bills to 976 numbers their kids rack up... the parents state that their kids are below 18, and the phone companies know that the kids aren't responsible parties, so they write off these 4 and 5-figure charges.)

I am assuming that the same is true of medical law.

Yes. That is what I mean. Schools, drug-stores, and PP should not be handing out condoms to kids below the age of consent without a parent's consent, IMO.

Then it really isn't INFORMED consent of the parents, is it? Signing a form that allows schools to administer to the health of a student in an emergency is VERY different from giving them consent to dispense BC pills to the kids. Parents should know that that is the right they are signing away when they sign that form. And as far as I know, that is not the case. The parents didn't know that they were doing that when they signed these forms.

Elliot

jillianleab

I know that's true of contract law, but I'm not 100% sure if it's the same with medical treatments... For some reason I keep thinking it's 16... but maybe it's LIMITED consent to that age, and full consent at 16? I don't know. speech might also be right, it might vary from state to state. Maybe I'll call my doctor brother, he ought to know!


Thanks for clearing that up. I respectfully disagree with you, but that's ok!

I agree, it's NOT informed consent of the parents, which is why I said it was underhanded. And I think it's not only a problem with the administering of the pill, but also with other drugs - kids that age don't necessarily know what drugs they are allergic to, they don't know the effects medications will have on them, and they may not be mature enough to take the medication properly. A parent should be nearby to inform the doctor of medical concerns which aren't in the patient chart. Hell, as a ADULT I was given penicillin (which I'm allergic to) because when the doc asked what my reaction to it was he didn't think it was bad enough that I shouldn't be taking it. Stupidly (I was 18) I took the prescription instead of insisting otherwise - is a 12 year old going to do the same as me? Probably. Might they have a more severe reaction than me? Possibly.

Does anyone know if this clinic can prescribe psychiatric drugs to the students as well? If so, I think that's a MUCH bigger concern than the pill!

charlotte234s

Did anyone read my posts?

Like I said, if the child needs to get BC, Condoms, or an abortion and they can't talk to their parents and they are seeeking it elsewhere, the parents have already failed, I don't see why we sould worry about the parents anymore. They let their kid get pregnant or made their kid feel like they couldn't get help from them. It's time to put the kids first.

speechlesstx

That has absolutely nothing to do with the point I made, and again an egregious assumption on your part.

NeedKarma

Sorry Tex, I agree with Charlotte. Children from caring loving families who monitor their teens usually don't get knocked up or sneak around to meet a 45 year old guy.

speechlesstx

That's all right NK, you can disagree but it still has nothing to do with the point I made. But since that's the point you two seem to want to make I have to disagree also. It may be the case for some teens but not all teens from caring, loving families that monitor their children. Do/have your kids always acted as you expected? I suspect not. I was raised in a loving, caring family that always took time for us and I did a lot of things my parents would be shocked at. The only reason I would have resorted to PP is precisely the opposite of yours and Charlotte's reasoning. It would not be because my parents failed me but because I failed my parents and would have tried to hide my failure from them.

jillianleab

"Usually" is the key word - but it does happen.

In high school, my neighbor, from a strict and close-knit Mormon family got pregnant. She was 17, how many people supervise their 17-year old non-stop?

My mom's neighbor, from a very close-knit Christian family got pregnant at 17, out of wedlock. Pregnant again (from a different dad) at 20, and FINALLY got married and pregnant a third time at 22.

My best friend from high-school, from a close-knit non-religious family, got pregnant because she didn't use protection when she lost her virginity. She knew better, but she did it anyway. She was 18.

I dated a guy who was 22 - I was 16.

Parents play a big role in how their children will grow up and behave, but sometimes you can give every opportunity to a child, and they'll screw up anyway. So I disagree that teens going to PP, et all are there because their parents failed them; they're there because they're teenagers and they do stupid things.

NeedKarma

So it matters not then if it's PP or the school nurse or the local women's shelter, you'd still be hopping mad at whatever organization your child went to?

speechlesstx

Yeah, I read your posts and I think it's a dangerous attitude to have. Should I ever be blessed with raising another child I *!@# sure don't want anyone to have a say so but in their lives but us. Did you read my last post? I know for a fact that if I had gotten a girl pregnant as a teen it was not because my parents failed me but because I failed. You've unfairly indicted a heck of a lot of good parents over choices their children made and given blanket permission for someone else to interfere where they have no business interfering. You're assuming parents are bad and the kids have nowhere else to go. With all due respect that's insane, Charlotte.

NeedKarma

And you've assumed that all the pregnant teens go to PP instead of their parents and that's insane as well.